Artist/Illustrator/Author

Pete Cromer is a contemporary Australian artist based in the Colac Otway region of Victoria. Inspired by the optimistic personalities in people and wildlife, Pete’s work is renowned for his signature bursts of glowing colour and beautiful textures, all reflected in his bold collages, wildlife books, paintings and sculptures.

Make Art that Sells

Building a career as a full-time artist requires diversified income streams. Pete Cromer will share his experience working across different mediums and markets to help you with your artistic career and how book publications help you reach a worldwide audience.

Affirm Press/Simon & Schuster (Publisher & Coach)

With over 20 years in children’s publishing, Tash Besliev has had a varied career across marketing, sales, branding and editorial, spending the last decade in senior management and publishing roles. Tash delights in collaborating with authors and illustrators to create books that resonate in the market and meet readers where they are at.

Affirm Press is a Melbourne-based publisher (now a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster) dedicated to publishing great Australian stories, big ideas, and the most engaging local and international authors.

Join Tash sharing publishing insights on various panels or in an intimate Coach Camp workshop for a lucky few.

Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House (PRH) is the world’s largest trade book publisher. PRH strive to make the perfect book for every reader producing some of the world's most iconic children's books and characters.

Michelle Madden is the children’s list commissioning editor seeking emerging and established author-illustrators and illustrators.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB author-illustrators/illus

UWAP

UWA Publishing (UWAP) shares stories, research and education with the world to encourage thought, inspire action and create and connect with engaged communities.

Kate Pickard is interested in stories with a unique viewpoint and a riveting storyline. Kate is also interested in works from marginalised voices.

Pitch Pro Sessions

CB/GN/MG/YA

Little Book Press (Publisher & Coach)

Alyson O’Brien has worked in children’s publishing for over 15 years, in editorial and commissioning roles including leading the Hardie Grant imprints Little Hare and Bright Lights. She is passionate about publishing memorable stories that ignite a lifelong love of reading in children. Alyson is currently the Publishing Director at Little Book Press, the not-for-profit publishing arm of Literacy Rights Australia.

Little Book Press publish high-quality, thoughtfully designed books including best-selling/award winning titles Two Turtles. The Thing About Christmas and this year’s Simultaneous Storytime book Luna Roo.

Join Alyson sharing publishing insights on various panels or in an intimate Coach Camp workshop for a lucky few.

Jacky Winter (agency)

Jacky Winter is an Australian artist agency with offices in the UK and USA. The agency offers a healthy, creative ecosystem where artists can thrive and clients can access a network of the world’s strongest talent,.

Naomi Perry is a literary agent interested in children’s picture books and graphic novel (GN) texts and illustrations - GN from junior fiction, middle grade to YA and will consider widely in these categories. She loves mysteries and adventure for younger age groups. Also thillers and romance for GN YA. Naomi is also open to adult graphic novels; both narrative non-fiction or contemporary fiction (not sci-fi or fantasy).

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB authorstrators only/GN/Illus

Larrikin House (Publisher & Bookseller)

James Layton is the Larri-King of Larrikin House and runs two highly successful businesses as both the publisher and bookseller.

Larrikin House publish quirky, original, funny kid-focused books that push boundaries. The publisher believes in the importance of engaging readers at an early age through fun books such as My Epic Dad, Mr Impoppable and global best-seller My Shadow is Pink.

Join James sharing top secret publishing and bookseller insights on various panels.

Riveted Press

Riveted Press is an independent publishing house 'Where unforgettable stories are forged' and that epitomises what the publisher is looking for. Rowena acquired, edited and published CBCA award-winning title Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon, and has had multiple titles longlisted and/or shortlisted in a variety of established literary awards.

Rowena is interested in science fiction, mystery, action/adventure, fantasy, myths/fables, historical fiction, clever humour (not toilet humour), dystopian, contemporary fiction.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing

Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing has modern families and children at the core of everything they do. They have built their success on stories of kindness, diversity, resilience and courage to reflect the world we live in, and the world we want to build.

Pooja Desai is the Art Director at Hardie Grant Children's Publishing where she also publishes books into a ground-breaking list, Bright Light.

Actively seeking stories that;

• Champion diverse voices who have meaningful stories to tell

• Stories that weave the traditions of culture with modern life

• Narrative-led everyday stories from marginalised perspectives

• Subversive stories with heart and humour

• Catchy, clever hooks that draw you in and guarantee a laugh

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus

Sarah McKenzie Literary Management (SMLM)

SMLM represents a growing list of Australian authors and illustrators. As well as proudly representing a range of best-selling authors, SMLM love to identify and champion new and emerging writers of adult fiction, nonfiction and children’s books.

As a boutique, author-focused agency, SMLM works closely with authors to provide personalised and friendly support and guidance at every stage of the publishing process.

Sarah McKenzie is a literary agent interested in stories with unique ideas & empowering themes. SLML is actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices and First Nations authors.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB, CB, MG, GN

EK Books

EK Books publish children’s books aimed primarily at kids aged 4 to 8 as well as fiction for young readers, and their motto is “Books with heart on issues that matter.” Their books are recommended by schools, education and health professionals.

Nathan James Thomas is the senior editor and publisher at EK Books seeking original stories on issues that matter from picture books to middle-grade fiction novels.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/MG/Illus

Simon& Schuster/Affirm Press

Affirm Press (subsidiary of Simon & Schuster) is a Melbourne-based publisher dedicated to publishing great Australian stories, big ideas, and the most engaging local and international authors.

Megan Whelan is the Senior Editor at Affirm Press and loves strong voices, eccentric characters and whimsy.

Affirm Press currently have a particular interest in graphic novel author-illustrators. They are not open to picture book writers/authors (author-illustrators only).

Pitch Pro Sessions

MG/GN/YA/Illus

Author

Claire Saxby is the award-winning author of Volcano, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Tree, Great White Shark, Iceberg, Dingo, Emu and The Wearing of the Green. Claire takes daily walks on the beach and beachcombs for unusual finds thinking  ‘What if...?’ and ‘Why?’. The answer to these questions sometimes become the foundation for a poem or story that later become books.

Collaboration

Industry pros—authors, artists, and publishers—share their experiences working together to create the perfect book, proving that magic happens when teams sync up, share visions, and collaborate to bring stories to life.

Author/Illustrator

Michelle Conn is a talented author-illustrator working with MidnightSun Publishing, Affirm Press, Windy Hollow Books and Walker Books. In 2024, Michelle was shortlisted for the CBCA New Illustrator Award as well as signing an author-illustrator book deal with Affirm Press in a unique way. Michelle has a Bachelor of Design from The College of Fine Arts in Sydney NSW and has worked as a graphic designer and primary school teacher.

Collaboration

Industry pros—authors, artists, and publishers—share their experiences working together to create the perfect book, proving that magic happens when teams sync up, share visions, and collaborate to bring stories to life.

MidnightSun Publishing

MidnightSun Publishing is a small press based in Adelaide dedicated to finding new and unknown voices.

The publisher is seeking stories that are unusual, especially about characters with diverse backgrounds. Also middle-grade adventure stories, YA addressing complex questions and picture books that cover historical non-fiction as well as books that are environmentally aware (and books that are plain fun).

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

UQP

UQP is an independent publisher of children's books based in Brisbane. They publish bold and inspiring literary books for children including award-winners Mina and the Whole Wide World (Sherryl Clark) and Three Dresses (Wanda Gibson).

Cathy Vallance is the children's publisher seeking picture books, chapter books, middle grade and YA. For picture books, no rhyming verse, no talking animals, and no looking for lost items please. For chapter books, MG and YA verse novels are welcomed as well as diverse/marginalised voices and unique stories that have something important to say and leave a lasting impression on the reader. No series or graphic novels.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA

New Frontier Publishing

New Frontier Publishing is an independent publisher of children's books based in both London & Sydney. They publish high quality picture and board books for children that inspire, educate and uplift children. Many of their books have won CBCA awards including Don’t Worry Felix, Lionel and Me and Please Handle With Care.

Sophia is the children's publisher where her role involves both commissioning and editing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus

Windy Hollow Books

Windy Hollow Books is an independent publisher of children's books based in Melbourne. They publish high quality, literary picture books for children so that they have wonderful reading experiences.

Cristina is the children's publisher where her role involves everything from commissioning to editing and sales and marketing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB

Ford St Publishing

Ford St seek to maintain excellence as a publisher of high quality books for children and young adults. Their books explore themes of contemporary relevance, including childhood grief, ageing, interfaith issues, war, bullying and whaling. Ford Street have published award-winning books such as My Dog Socks, Country Town , Our Mob and I Need a Parrot.

Palmina is a senior editor at Ford St Publishing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

Wild Eyed Press

Wild Eyed Press publishes Children's Picture Books with an Australian natural environment focus - whether it be wildlife, bushland, nature play, humour or storytelling.

They also sell Australian art by Australian artists, available as Greeting Cards, Children's Books, Stationery, Mugs, Giftwrap at over 140+ retail stockists and pay quarterly royalties to artists.

They encourage public awareness and concern for Australian fauna and the sustainability of their fragile habitats.

Leanne White is the commissioning editor and art director.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus